Waking up after a sound sleep of 12 hours can only mean two things either I am unemployed or on vacation. Thankfully it is the latter. On this nice long vacation at home - it's been 3 weeks of late mornings and even later nights. I cannot begin to imagine what next Monday will be like after this vacation anyhow that is for the future and much more time to dread the days to come.
Let me begin here my chronicling my days in Kolkata, at what most would agree is the best time of the year in this city. With Park Street being lit up and stalls dotting the pavements - it is that time of the year when no one minds the pushes and shoves. Awesome music at Allen Park makes for an impromptu concert which no one can ignore. Every Bengali worth his monkey cap will make a dash for Park Street family in tow.
I would not trade this Christmas for one at any other part of the world. The carol singers, the midnight mass, plum cake, hole in the wall bakers churning out hot cakes, the beautiful christmas trees decorations et al, not to forget New Market at Christmas. For most there is no Christmas without at least a dozen visits to this historic landmark.
From little ornaments for the tree to bags from Hong Kong this stretch of land in prime realty space in the city hosts everything under the sun. It is no wonder then that New Market is an important part of the festivities not only at Christmas but for all festivals celebrated in the city. As they say, there are 365 days in the year but here in India we celebrate 366 festivals. One for each day of the year. New Market is a must visit shopping escape for those who visit the city from different parts of the country and the world.
The celebrations in this city cannot be replicated in any other part of the country the weather is just right and the people are so warm that you cannot help but agree that Kolkata is truly the City of Joy.
Let me begin here my chronicling my days in Kolkata, at what most would agree is the best time of the year in this city. With Park Street being lit up and stalls dotting the pavements - it is that time of the year when no one minds the pushes and shoves. Awesome music at Allen Park makes for an impromptu concert which no one can ignore. Every Bengali worth his monkey cap will make a dash for Park Street family in tow.
I would not trade this Christmas for one at any other part of the world. The carol singers, the midnight mass, plum cake, hole in the wall bakers churning out hot cakes, the beautiful christmas trees decorations et al, not to forget New Market at Christmas. For most there is no Christmas without at least a dozen visits to this historic landmark.
From little ornaments for the tree to bags from Hong Kong this stretch of land in prime realty space in the city hosts everything under the sun. It is no wonder then that New Market is an important part of the festivities not only at Christmas but for all festivals celebrated in the city. As they say, there are 365 days in the year but here in India we celebrate 366 festivals. One for each day of the year. New Market is a must visit shopping escape for those who visit the city from different parts of the country and the world.
The celebrations in this city cannot be replicated in any other part of the country the weather is just right and the people are so warm that you cannot help but agree that Kolkata is truly the City of Joy.
